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Iraq
There has been a Christian presence in Iraq since the first century, including Church of the East Assyrians, Orthodox churches, and Chaldean Catholics.
The fall of Saddam Hussein unleashed a wave of violence that has greatly affected the Christian community in Iraq. After decades of living in relative harmony with the Muslim majority, Iraq’s ancient Christian minority is threatened as never before. Before March 2003, there were approximately one million Christians in Iraq, but by October 2006, more than half had left. More have continued to leave since then, and while many of those who fled long to return, they cannot.
The five congregations of the Presbyterian Assembly of Iraq frequently experience urban warfare in Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad, and Basra. When their pastors were threatened, all but one left the country. Courageous elders lead worship, arrange for Bible study groups, and find resources to share with desperate refugees who suddenly lose their homes to extremist militants. When curfews were announced for Friday prayers, these leaders managed transportation for those in the congregation who come early to meet for prayer and church school and to share food and fellowship before returning home before sundown.
Relatively few of the more than two million Iraqi refugees have been resettled in other countries. Some two million internally displaced persons inside Iraq, up to 40 percent of them estimated to be Christians, have few resources for daily life. (The United States issued only 7,000 visas to Iraqis in 2008.) The challenge for the church in Iraq seems overwhelming. Larry Richards, a co-coordinator, says that “the Iraq Partnership Network stands in solidarity and prayer with the national churches of Iraq to strengthen the continuing witness to Christ.”
Partners/Ministries
The Presbyterian Churches of Iraq: Elder Yousif Al-Saka, general secretary
Middle East Council of Churches Relief Program, Baghdad: Mr. Khalid Koutmeh, director
Evangelical Church (Presbyterian Church) in Baghdad
Assyrian Presbyterian Church in Baghdad
Evangelical Church (Presbyterian Church) in Basra: Elder Zuhair Fathalla, M.D., lay leader
Evangelical Church (Presbyterian Church) in Kirkuk: Rev. Haithem Jazrawi, pastor Evangelical Church (Presbyterian Church) in Mousul: Elder Shamel Sadik, lay leader
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Jeanne Williams, GAMC
Joseph Williams, GAMC
O Lord, our Holy God, the all powerful. We beseech you, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, to send your Holy Spirit to shade the land of Iraq so that peace may prevail in its dwellings; acts of violence, killing, kidnapping, and persecution may cease; the displaced may return to their homes; the churches may reopen their doors without fear of shells and explosions; and smiles may be seen again on the faces of children. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ps. 33, 146 Ps. 85, 94
Zech. 2:1–13
Rev. 3:14–22; Matt. 24:32–44
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